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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

F. RHIND. SUSPENSION DEVICE.

No. 421,192. Patented Feb. 11,1890.

' LOZ JbTUQS S'Z S'X 1 Ewe/7126201:

(No Model.) 2Sheets-Sheet 2.

P. RHIND. SUSPENSION DEVIGE.

' No. 421,192. Patented Feb. 11, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC FRANK RHIND, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES S. UPTON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SUSPENSION DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o.-421,192, dated February 11, 1890,

Application filed April 20, 1889. Serial No. 308.042. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK RHIND, a citi zen of the United States, residing at Meriden, New Haven county, Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Suspension Devices, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to that class of suspension devices in which a rotary springmlrum is provided with a friction-brake and is intended to combine with the advantage of the brake that of a lock or stop by which the rotation of the drum may be arrested or the friction quickly increased and diminished.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of my device; Fig. 2, a top plan view of the same; Fig. 3, a top plan view of a modification; Fig. 4, an elevation of another modification Figs. 5 and 6, respectively, an elevation and a vertical section of another modification; and Fig. 7, a top planview of still another modification.

Similar letters refer to like parts in the several views.

A designates a frame; a, a stud on the frame A a, an idler also on the frame A; B, an arbor; C, a spring-inclosing drum; 0, a flange on the drum 0; D, a loop or hanger; d, a lug on the loop D; E, a cord or chain Wound on the drum C; F, a brakeshoe orstrap; G, an adjusting-screw; H, a lug or wedge; I, Fig. 4, a swing-frame; 2', a pivot on the frame I, and t a stud also on the frame I.

The example of my invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings is constructed and operated as follows: The frame A and arbor B are integral, the frame being provided with a stud or post a, and with suitable bearings for the idlers or guide pulleys a. The arbor B is vertical and forms an axis for the spring-inclosing drum C, on which the chains E are wound. On the upper end of the arbor B the loop or hanger D is secured so that while the loop is supported by a ceiling-hook so as to be incapable of rotation the arbor B and frame A may have a limited rotation in a horizontal plane. On the upper end of the drum C is the annular flange c.

The brake-shoe F consists of a divided am nular portion within this annular flange c, and of two radially-extending arms, one on each side of stud a.

These radial arms are separated by an adjustingscrew G. It will be seen that the brake-shoe F is held from rotation with the drum by the stud or post a, and that the amount of friction between the divided annular portion and the flange 0 may be increased or diminished by the adjustingscrew G, so that the whole forms an efficient adjustable friction device.

On the inner side of the annular portion of the brake-shoe F is secured a Wedge-shaped lug H. hen the fraIneAis rotated, the lug d on the loop D engages with this wedge or lug H, thereby causing sufficient friction between the brake-shoe F and the flange 0 to prevent the rotation of the drum C. The rotation of the frame A may be communicated to it through the chains E E from the lampsupporting portion below, as fully described in reissued Letters Patent No. 10,967, dated November 20, 1888. It'will be seen that a weight, as a lamp depending from the lower ends of the chains E E, may be pulled down by the operator in opposition to the force of a convolute spring inclosed Within the drum C, and that when the Weight is-raised the reaction of this spring will rewind the chains E E on the drum C. The effect of the fric tion between the brake-shoe F and the concentric flange c is to maintain the suspended weight at any desired elevation, notwithstanding considerable variations in the weight of. the suspended article and of the force of the spring. When it is desired to lock the drum against rotation, a partial rotation given to the lamp or other suspended article will be communicated through the chains E E to the frame A, causing the lug (Z on the loop D to press against the wedge or lug H, secured to the shoe F, thereby quickly and greatly increasing the friction between the shoe and the flange c. i

The form of construction shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings differs from that described chiefly in that the brake-shoe or strap 11 is in this case rigidly secured at one end to the stud or post at, its other end being free. The wedge H is here shown as an integral extension of the brakedoand F bent back on itself. The action of the brake and of the locking device in this construction will be essentially as before described. It will be seen that in this device the brake-shoe F, if made of resilient metal, being rigidly connected to the frame A at one end and free at the other end, will produce greater friction when the drum 0 is rotated in one direction than when this rotation is in the reverse direction. This feature, however, I expressly disclaim, as it forms no part of my invention.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings the frame A is shown as vertically suspended, with the separate arbor B arranged horizontally, so that the plane of rotation of the drum 0 is a vertical one. In this case the radially-projecting portion of the brake-shoe F is dispensed with, one end of the divided annulus being directly secured to the frame A. The swingframe I is pivoted to the frame A at 7:, so that the frame A is capable of limited vertical rotation with reference to the swing-frame I. The stud i bears against the end of the screw G in the free end of the annular brake-shoe F, so as to produce frictional contactbetween the shoe F and the flange o. The amount of pressure exerted by the stud it" upon the free end of the shoe F may be regulated by the adj usting-screw G. The loop or hanger D is pivotally secured to the swing-frame I, so that the weight of the frame and of the suspended article tends to increase the pressure of the stud t" on the end of the shoe F on the flange c. The swing-frame I, with the frame A and all that it carries, is capable of limited rotation in a horizontal plane on theloop D. This rotation may be communicated, as before, from the article suspended through the cord or chain E, or in any other desired manner. In the drawings I have shown the device as applied to an extension-chandelier, in which case the rotation may be communicated through the tube through which the chain E passes. When this horizontal rotation on the loop D is produced, the lug d on the loop D strikes against the upper end of the frame A, so as to tilt the frame A in the swing-frame 1, thereby lessening the pressure of the stud 1; on the free end of the brake-shoe F and permitting the rotation of the drum 0 in either direction. It' will be seen that this form of construction differs from either of the former in being normally locked, so that it is necessary for the operator to partly rotate the frames on the loop D before thelamp or other suspended article can be either raised or lowered.

In Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings the brake F is shown as an inverted-cone frustum bearing against a correspondingly-tapered annular flange c on the upper surface of the drum 0. The brake F is fixed against rotation with the drum, and the amount of friction exerted by the brake F on the flange 0 may be regu lated by a nut working on the screw threaded upper end of the arbor B. The uppersurface of the brake F is divided into a series of in clined planes or wedges, and the lower surface of the hanger D is provided with corre spondingly-inclined planes, both as shown in Fig. 5, so that a partial rotation of the frame A and brake F relative to the hanger D causes the inclined planes on the hanger D to ride upon those on the brake F with the effect of preventing further rotation of the drum C on the frame A.

In Fig. 7-1 have shown the upper surface of a drum 0 provided with an annular flangeo. Within the flange c is the brake band or sleeve F, in the form of an arc of a circle, secured at one end by means of a radial arm to the arbor B and provided at its other end with an adj Listing-screw G, by means of which the amount of friction between the brake F and the flange a may be varied.

Upon the upper end of the arbor B is an eccentric cylindric portion, on which the loop D is mounted. The loop D is provided at its base with a projecting lug d, within the flange 0, adapted to bear against the free portion of the flange 0 between the ends of the band F. The loop D being eccentrically mounted on the axis of rotation of the frame A, it is plain that a partial rotation of the frame A and arbor B relative to the loop D will cause thelug (Z to bear against the flange c of the drum C, thereby preventing the rotation of the drum 0 011 the frame A.

I have described several modes of embodying my invention, and am satisfied that it may be embodied in other different forms of construction. I do not wish, therefore, to be understood as limiting myself to any particular form or application of a brake shoe or band, it being only essential to myinvention that the spring-inclosing drum be provided.

with a frictional bearing surface; that there be secured to the frame a brake stationary with reference to said drum, and that the.

frame be capable of partial rotation on the loop or hanger, so that by means of said par tial rotation the friction on said bearing-sun face may be quickly increased or diminished, thereby preventing or permitting the rotation of the drum and the elevation or depression of the suspended article.

the device patented to me November 20,1888, Reissue No. 10,967.

I amaware of the existence of various Let ters Patent covering different forms of brake shoes or bands adapted to secure either con stant or adjustable frictional contact with a spring-inclosing drum; but I am not advised- My present inven tion may be considered as an improvement on part, substantially as described.

3. In a suspension device, the combination of a stationary suspending loop or hanger, a frame supported by said hanger so as to be capable of partial rotation in a horizontal plane, a rotary spring-drum supported on. an axis in said frame, a brake connected with said frame and in frictional contact with said drum, a cord or chain on said drum and passing downward to the article suspended, and a locking device one portion of which is connected with said loop or hanger, the other portion connected with said brake, said looking device being operated by the rotation of the adjustable part of the fixture communicated from the article suspended, substam tially as described.

at. In a suspension device, the combination of a stationary suspending loop or hanger, a

frame supported by said hanger so as to be capable of partial rotation in a horizontal plane, a rotary spring-drum supported on an axis in said frame, abrake connected with said frame and in frictional contact with said drum, two or more cords or chains on said drum and passing downward to the article suspended, and a locking device one portion of which is connected with said loop or hanger, the other portion connected with said brake, said locking device being operated by the rotation of the adjustable part of the device communicated from the article suspended through the two or more cords or chains, substantially as described.

5. In a suspension device, the combination of a stationary suspending loooa frame supported by said loop so as to be capable of partial rotation in a horizontal plane, a stud or post on said frame, an arbor in said frame, a rotary spring drum mounted on said arbor, an annular flange on said drum, a frictionbrake acting in conjunction with said flange, and a wedge shaped lug on said brake adapted to engage with a lug on said suspendingdoop in consequence of the rotation of said frame on said loop, substantially as described.

FRANK RI-IIND. Witnesses:

GEO. L. COOPER, E. B. HAWLEY, 

